A bit like a volcano, AI walks through the door

A dog walked into a tavern and said, “I can’t see a thing. I’ll open this one.” That’s it — that’s the joke. To get the humour, one would need cultural context from one of the oldest civilisations, Sumer (c. 3300-1900 BCE). Missing context is one of the ways in which an ancient text, though present, may still be “lost”. In other cases, the text’s physical condition may prevent it from being read. For instance, the eruption of Mt Vesuvius in Italy in 79 CE led to a whole library of scrolls being carbonised and preserved, but left too fragile to open. Until AI walked in and said, “I’ll open this one.”

A scroll from the Herculaneum library has now been “unwrapped”, though not literally — it was scanned using high-resolution X-rays, virtually reconstructed and flattened so that a machine-learning tool could bring out the traces of ink, allowing scholars to read the text. It turned out to be a treatise on ethics, perhaps authored by the Stoic philosopher Chrysippus. Hundreds of scrolls remain to be opened, and both the data and the code are open to all. Classicists are chomping at the bit, talking about all the ancient texts they dream of rediscovering. Some have brought up the lost dialogues of Aristotle, called a “river of gold” by Cicero. The nerdiest may yearn for the dictionary of the Etruscan language written by the nerdiest of emperors, Claudius.

This speaks to the duality of AI in academia: While it has arrived as a menace in the classroom, the possibilities it opens up for both scientists and humanities researchers are mouth-watering. It’s destruction and preservation wrapped up in one — a bit like a volcanic eruption.

Overall Analysis

The editorial explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in uncovering lost knowledge, arguing that while AI is often viewed as a disruptive force in education, it also possesses extraordinary potential to advance research and preserve humanity’s cultural heritage. Through a blend of humour, history, and technology, the author presents AI as both a challenge and an opportunity.

The editorial opens with an ancient Sumerian joke to illustrate how historical texts can become “lost” not because they disappear, but because modern readers lack the cultural context needed to understand them. This engaging introduction prepares the reader for the broader theme of rediscovering the past. The author then shifts to the famous Herculaneum scrolls, which were carbonised during the eruption of Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE and remained unreadable for centuries. By describing AI as saying, “I’ll open this one,” the editorial personifies technology, making a complex scientific achievement both accessible and memorable.

The article goes on to explain how AI-enabled machine learning, combined with high-resolution X-ray imaging, has virtually “unwrapped” these fragile scrolls without damaging them. The discovery of an ethical treatise, possibly written by Chrysippus, illustrates the immense scholarly value of such technological breakthroughs. The author further excites readers by mentioning the possibility of recovering other lost works, including writings attributed to Aristotle and Claudius, thereby highlighting AI’s potential to reshape historical and literary scholarship.

In the concluding section, the editorial broadens its argument beyond archaeology. It acknowledges the growing concerns about AI’s misuse in classrooms and education, but argues that these fears should not overshadow its immense benefits for scientific and humanities research. By comparing AI to a volcanic eruption—capable of both destruction and preservation—the author captures its complex and dual nature. The editorial ultimately encourages readers to adopt a balanced perspective, recognising AI as a powerful tool whose impact depends on how it is used.

Important Vocabulary (5)

1. Carbonised – Converted into carbon by intense heat while retaining its basic shape.
2. Treatise – A formal and detailed written work on a particular subject.
3. Virtually – Performed using digital technology rather than physically.
4. Duality – The state of having two contrasting or complementary aspects.
5. Chomping at the bit – An idiom meaning to be extremely eager or impatient to do something.

Conclusion & Tone

The editorial argues that Artificial Intelligence is neither entirely beneficial nor entirely harmful. While it raises legitimate concerns in areas like education, its ability to recover lost knowledge and expand human understanding demonstrates its enormous positive potential. The challenge lies in using AI responsibly so that its benefits outweigh its risks.

Tone: Reflective, optimistic, engaging, and thought-provoking.